Match holder



Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT y QFFICE MATCH HOLDER Marvin I. Karp, New York, N. Y.

Application October 31, 1945, Serial No. 625,786

12 Claims. (Cl. 20G-48) This invention relates to novel match pack holders and more particularly to a compactly collapsible match packet holder which may be readily placed in releasable rm engagement with a package of cigarettes or tobacco.

Various devices have been proposed for maintaining a pack of matches in association with a cigarette package. However, such devices have generally been bulky, ineflicient in operation, incapable of rm securement to a cigarette package and complicated in construction.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a match pack holder which may be readily and easily secured in releasable iirm engagement with a package of cigarettes or tobacco; to provide .such a holder which is collapsible into a comp-act form when released from the package; to provide such a holder including means for rmly maintaining a pack of matches engaged therein; to provide a match holder arranged for operative association with a package of cigarettes and formed with a closure member for covering the cigarette removing opening in the package; and to provide a match holder for cigarette or tobacco packages which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and reliable in operation.

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation view ofthe match holder as applied to a cigarette package.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the combination package and holder shown in Fig 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the matchl holder in its collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the combination package and holder shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. l. i

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention, including a closure for the cigarette removing opening of a cigarette lpackage.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation View of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation view of another modication of the invention match holder, shown in the collapsed position.

Generally speaking, the match packet holder of the present invention comprises a clip detachably engageable with the .bottom fold of a.

Ahinge pintles 35 on holder 20.

cigarette or tobacco package. A match holder or pocket is pivotally connected to the clip and, when the holder is attached to a package, the match holder lies against the front face of the package. When the holder is detached from the package, the match holding portion is collapsible into juxtaposed relation with the clip to provide a compact, easily carried unit. Means preferably are provided whereby the match holder automatically collapses into a compact form when removed from the package. Preferably, releasable means are provided on the clip for holding the latter firmly engaged with the package.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 6 of the invention, the invention device includes a clip I5 to which is pivotally secured a match holder or packet 20'. Clip I5 includes a blade 25 insertable in the top or bottom fold 3| ofA a. cigarette or tobacco package 30. Blade 25 is preferably tapered at its end, as indicated at I6, for easy insertion in the fold, and is integrally connected by a bight I'l to a bottom plate I 8 which overlies the outer surface of a package fold 3|.

Plate I8 is formed with an aperture 2| (see Fig. 4)v through which extends a suitable clamping device 22 secured to blade 25. Clamping device 22 may be of any desired type. As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, it includes a spring blade 23 engaged by a pivotally mounted crank member 24 including an operating handle 26. In the released position shown in Fig. 3, handle 26 extends outwardly and spring 23 is in the free position. When handle 26 is moved to its inner position, shown in Figs. 1 and 5, it compresses spring 23 piercing the prongs 29 through the outer surface of package fold 3l whereby the fold is rmly gripped between blade 25 and spring 23. Clip I5 is thus maintained in rm engagement with fold 3l of package 3U. Plate I8 also has another aperture I9, through which blade 25 may be observed to guide' the blade into fold 3 I Plate I8 is formed with a right-angles flange 32 having portions shaped to provide hinge pintles 33. Pintles 33 receive a pin 34 extending through A spring 36 normally resilient biases holder 20 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the device automatically collapses into the position shown in Fig. 3 when disengaged from the cigarette or tobacco package.

Match holder 20 comprises a rear wall 4I, having forwardly extending flanges 42, and a front wall 43 integrally connected to rear wall 4I by a bottom wall 44. Front wall 43 is apertured, as at 45, to expose striking surface 5I of match book 50, thus providing upper edge portion 46.

Match pack 50 may be released, however, if por-v Y tion 46 is sprung outwardly, as by engagement with a fingernail or a tool.

The device shown in Fig. lfthus comprises a compactly foldable match holder which is quicklyY and easily attached to and detached from a cigarette or tobacco package having the customary bottom fold 3l. This bottom fold is found onv practically all cigarette packages and most tobacco packages. The bottom fold has an advantage in securing a match holder to the package in that the clip portion of the holder is engaged with four layers of the package material, generally paper. Conversely, in the prior art devices, which have been engaged with other portions of `the package, only oney layer of paper maintains the holder in position. As a result, such prior artdevices easilytoreA through the paperfand becamedisengaged from the package. With the present device however, a much rmer attachment to the package is provided due to the four layers of paper comprising fold 3 i. Additionallyywhen the devicevis `attached to the bottomfold, the center of gravity of the package is lowered, thus rendering the package more stable. In tobacco boxes having a movable closure on the bottom, the blade may be inserted underneath such closure to secure the match holder to the box, even though such closure is permanently secured in the closed position. v Y

Additionally, bottom plate I8, which is generally rectangular in shape, prevents collapsing of the cigarette package when partly emptied, thus preventing damage to the remaining cigarettes by maintaining the bottom of the package in its original rectangular shape. Furthermore, spring 3S continually biases holder 20 inwardly against the front wall of the cgaretteDaCkage, so as to maintain pressure on the remaining cigarettes 65 and thus prevent the same from flopping loosely aroundthe package. Thereby, the vcigarettes are kept inY more `attractive condition as the tobacco is maintained firmly therein and does not become loose, as frequently happens with cigarettes in a partially empty package. When the device isy removed-from the package, spring 36 automatically folds the device in to the compactform shown in Fig. 3 thus presenting a small bulk, whereby the device may be easily carried in a pocket or handbag when not in use. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a `modified form of the invention in which the holder is attached to the top'fold of a cigarette package and a .closure isgagement `,with 'a ltongue.' 63 projecting inwardly into aperture 6I. Aperture lil is located adjacent the cigarette removing opening 64 provided by tearing a portion of the top fold of package 3|] so that cigarettes 65 may be removed therefrom. To remove cigarettes from the package, the inner edge of door 60 is engaged by a linger and the door opened, whereupon cigarettes 55 may be readily removed from package 30.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of the invention in whichspring 36 is eliminated from the hinge connectionfbetween holder 20 and clip l5. The hinge 66 used in this form of the invention vv'f'is shaped so that clip 20 may only be moved from 4the position shown to a position perpendicular to clip l5. However, a spring clip 61 is secured to clip l5 and releasably engages the upper edge of back wall 4| of holder 2l] to hold the device inY collapsed position.

The described match packet holder provides a compactly foldable, easily engaged device which may be readily attached and detached from a package of cigarettes or tobacco. When detached, the device lfolds compactly into a small unit easily carried in a pocket or handbag. The device may be applied to any size or type of package including a bottom fold, such as customarily provided on cigarette packages. Due to the engagement of the clip portion of the device with such bottom fold, much morerm attachment to the package is provided as such bottom fold includes four layers of paper as compared to the singlelayer ofpaper on the remainder of the package. Prior art devices have generally been designed for attachmentrto a cigarette package elsewhere than at the bottom or upper fold, and have therefore been subject to ready disengagement due to tearing of the single layer of paper engaged by such devices.

The present device is vusable with a standard size pack of cigarettes and also with a king size pack. Furthermore, the inwardly sprung bar or portion 46 of the front plate 43 of the match holder rmly locks the pack of matches in the holder so that `accidental detachment is prevented unless the match pack is substantially destroyed.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles. Y What is claimed is:

1. For use with a package having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade vinsertable in the end fold;,.and -a match book holder secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; said holderv 4automatically folding against said clip means-.when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit. 2. For use with a package having Van end fold, a. match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including 'la blade -insertable in the end fold; a match book holder secured to said clip means and arranged to lieagainst a wall of the package whensaid clip means is engaged in the end fold; said holder folding against said clip means, 'when the latter is disengaged froml the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit; and means retaining said holder and clip means in such folded position. 3.For use witha packagehaving an end fold, a matchretainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; a match book holder secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a Wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; and resilient means biasing said holder to fold against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a com-l pact, easily stored unit.

4. For use With a package having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; a match book holder secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a Wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; and retaining means effective, upon insertion of a match book into said holder, to engage the edge of the striking surface of the book to retain the match book locked in said holder; said holder folding against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit.

5. For use with a package having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; releasable clamping means operative to engage the end fold to lock said clip thereto; and a match book holder secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a Wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; said holder folding against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit.

6. For use With Ia package having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; releasable clamping means operative to engage the end fold to lock said clip thereto; a match book holder secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a Wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; said holder folding against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit; and means retaining said holder and clip means in such folded position.

7. For use with a cigarette package having a wall and an end fold substantially perpendicular thereto, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; a match book holder hingedly secured to said clip means and arranged to lie Iagainst such Wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; and resilient means biasing said holder against such package wall, as the package is emptied, to clamp the remaining cigarettes against loose movement in the partially empty package.

8. For use With a cigarette package having a Wall and an end fold substantially perpendicular thereto, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; a match book holder hingedly secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against such Wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; and resilient means biasing said holder against such package Wall, as the package is emptied, to clamp the remaining cigarettes against loose movement in the partially empty package; said resilient means biasing said holder to fold against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit.

9. For use with a cigarette or tobacco package having an end fold, a match retainer comprislng,.

in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the top end fold of the package and a plate integral with andparallel to said blade and adapted to lie outside the top fold; said plate having an aperture to provide for removal of cigarettes from an opening in the top of the package; a closure for such opening arranged in the aperture; and a match book holder hingedly secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a wall of the package when said clip means is engaged in the end fold; said holder folding against said clip means, When the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit.

10. For use with a cigarette or tobacco package having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold; and a match book holder hingedly secured to said clip means and arranged to lie against a wall of the package When said clip means is engaged in the end fold; said holder folding against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit; said match holder comprising substantially parallel front and rear Walls forming a pocket to receive the striking surface of the match book and said front Wall having an aperture to expose the match striking surface, the upper edge of the aperture being sprung inwardly to engage the upper edge of the striking surface and lock the match book in said holder.

11. For use with a cigarette or tobacco pack-V age having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold and a plate integral with and extending parallel to said blade, said plate having a substantially perpendicular flange along one edge arranged to lie against a face of the package; and a match book holder hingedly secured to said ilange and arranged to lie against such package face when said blade is inserted in an end fold; said holder folding against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit.

12. For use with a cigarette or tobacco package having an end fold, a match retainer comprising, in combination, clip means including a blade insertable in the end fold and a plate integral With and extending parallel to said blade. said plate having a substantially perpendicular ange along one edge arranged to lie against a face of the package; a match book holder hingedly secured to said ange; means retaining a match book locked in said holder; and resilient means biasing said holder to fold against said clip means, when the latter is disengaged from the end fold, to form a compact, easily stored unit.

MARVIN I. KARP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 118,748 Sprague Jan. 30, 1940 986,769 Shippen Mar. 14, 1911 2,156,318 Sprague May 2, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 610,847 France June 19, 1926 

